The Andrology Laboratory was formed in 1972 at The Royal Hospital for Women (RHW) Laboratories along with the Department of Reproductive Medicine in Paddington following the increasing need for fertility services. The laboratory has since amalgamated with SEALS and is now located at the RHW, Randwick Campus.

Its focus is the diagnosis of male fertility, providing ART support to the Department of Reproductive Medicine and fertility preservation of male and female oncology patients. The support of the donor sperm programme is also another important role of the laboratory. The laboratory also provides training for local and overseas health professionals who wish to specialise in laboratory Andrology/Seminology.

Comprehensive diagnostic Andrology services are provided to the major hospitals in the SESLHD and ISLHD. Referrals to the laboratories are also received from GPs, Specialists and other public and private health facilities throughout NSW.

New technologies have become available to allow us to assess the DNA integrity of sperm. The Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA) has helped the team at RHW identify problems with some couples previously grouped into the unexplained infertility category and some poor responders to IVF treatment.

Other important investigation and ART procedures provided within the fertility clinic include the post coital test (PCT) and sperm cervical mucus contact test (SCMCT) as well as therapeutic preparations for insemination procedures. These tests and services are co-ordinated with the Fertility Clinic, Reproductive Medicine.

To ensure quality and so that a meaningful result is returned, this laboratory recommends that any patient undergoing fertility assessment use an accredited Andrology Laboratory for semen analysis that is linked to a fertility or IVF unit.

The SEALS Andrology Laboratory is located in the Department of Reproductive Medicine, Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick. The laboratory is open for semen analysis Monday to Saturday and an appointment is required. For further information contact the laboratory on (02) 9382 6643.Contact Information: